An action-packed night of ‘Knockout Chaos’ – live worldwide on DAZN PPV – awaits at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh on Friday, March 8, where Anthony Joshua faces Francis Ngannou at the top of another huge card in Saudi Arabia. 

With just one week to go until his blockbuster Heavyweight showdown with the former MMA king, two-time World Champion and London 2012 Olympic gold medallist ‘AJ’ has taken a special stroll down ‘Memory Lane’ with DAZN’s iconic lead commentator, Mike Costello, to reveal the fascinating inside story behind some of the key moments during his illustrious career so far.

From turning up in a George ASDA suit at his Matchroom signing over a decade ago in July 2013, to downing a pint of Forged Irish Stout with Conor McGregor, Joshua fondly looks back at a collection of key images from his incredible journey in the sport – before he switches focus to his new link-up with trainer Ben Davison and his plot to bring down Ngannou in Saudi Arabia before climbing back to the summit of the Heavyweight division.

You can watch the full video on the Matchroom Boxing YouTube channel with a downloadable free for use, 90-second trailer HERE.

The full transcript from the interview is provided below. Please credit Matchroom Boxing with any use, with reference to the fight taking place live worldwide on DAZN PPV.

FULL TRANSCRIPT

PICTURE 1: Anthony Joshua proudly holding the Union Jack flag after his London 2012 Olympics Games glory for Team GB. August 2012.

MIKE COSTELLO: London 2012. When you look at that, what’s the first thing that enters your mind?

ANTHONY JOSHUA: What am I doing here? You know, three years before that I was looking at a long, lengthy court case and a possible sentence in jail – and now, I’m the flag bearer of Great Britain. So, it was fun, but I didn’t know what was coming or how I ended up there, to be honest with you. 

MC: You’ve gone on to win a World Title, James DeGale did the same, but it’s only the two of you who have done that in men’s boxing from Great Britain (won have Olympic gold for Team GB and gone on to win a World Title).

AJ: Is it? Wow. I do believe that someone else will achieve it too. It’s like when the four-minute mile was first spoken about. It was impossible until someone done it. For now, it is rare, for sure, but I can’t wait for the next young lot of Heavyweights, or whatever weight they come through, and make us look like ordinary people. I think there’s so much talent out there that hasn’t been discovered yet. 

PICTURE 2: AJ shaking hands with Eddie Hearn after signing his first professional promotional agreement with Matchroom Boxing in July 2013.

MC: Onto the next one. This is handshakes with Eddie Hearn for your first promotional agreement. You look like you’ve been dressed by your mum for your first day at school!

AJ: Haha! Yes. I used to get my stuff from ASDA. George, ASDA! I’d take it to a tailor and get it chopped up for a tenner, then come and present myself to the world. You must remember up until this point, the only time I’d ever really have to wear suits was to court dates or funerals. Now I’m doing big business. From a young age, I always had a hustler’s head on my shoulders so I could stand strong with Eddie Hearn – an educated man, who’s come from a good family. I’ve come from a good family too, but for me, personally education wasn’t always my main priority. I felt like at this stage in my life, boxing wasn’t the hard part. Making sure my business was in the right order was the hardest part.  

MC: And that was the promotional agreement that you were so keen to, as you say, ‘hustle’ and keep control of your career from a management side?

AJ: Yes. There’s a saying in Boxing, where Boxing is the only jungle where the lions are afraid of the rats – because you’ve seen what many other promoters have done to boxers before. It wasn’t so long ago, in the 1980s and 90s, when athletes were being taken advantage of by some. It’s such a shame because you see them today – and these are my heroes, and the heroes of so many others – and they’re the guys who really made the Boxing industry work. Thankfully, Eddie has proven to me to be one of the best in the business. The Hearn family and Matchroom Boxing have stuck to their word, so I’ve stuck with them, and I would advise anyone in Boxing to look at them as a promoter and a promotional outfit. They taught me, not only how to navigate my career, but they gave me access to help understand how the business fronts. 

PICTURE 3: AJ facing Emanuele Leo in his professional debut. 5 October, 2013. The O2, London.

MC: And you’ve been good to them as well, and this is where it all started with your pro debut, almost a year after the Olympics against Emanuele Leo. 

AJ: Yes, Emanuele Leo. And 8-0 fighter. It’s good to get people talking: “Oh my god, this new boxer is coming in and taking on some guy who has had eight fights and won them… let’s see how he’s going to get on.” We did that and I got the job done. 

MC: What was the standard like and what did it feel like on the night, to come off the back of the standard at the Olympics against [Roberto] Cammarelle, [Ivan] Dychko, [Zhilei] Zhang and all the rest?

AJ: It didn’t really mean anything at this stage if I’m honest. I didn’t know what was going on! I just kind of trained well and gave my best. You must remember before then I never really had any intention of being a boxer. It wasn’t like, “this is my dream”. This was an experience, rather than a dream. So, I was just riding the wave. I call it a situation where if you know where you’re going, you can turn up to a red carpet and know how to walk down it – you’ll know where you’re going because this has always been part of your plan. But, for me, it’s like the red carpet has been rolled out and I’m just a few steps behind it as it’s going and I’m figuring it out as I go along. 

MC: So, did it take time to get comfortable in that space and in that environment?

AJ: Yeah, the pro ranks is different. No head guard, different gloves, smaller ring. Your bare. You’re fighting some of the toughest and best fighters in the world, so this was my learning time in the pro ranks. 

PICTURE 4: AJ with his arms raised during fight with Vladimir Klitschko, August 2017. Wembley Stadium, London.

MC: In this one, we move on to 2017 and this is you with your arms raised after the first knockdown against Vladimir Klitschko. What’s going through your mind here as the referee is counting?

AJ: I thought I had won! And I thought I was going to win it from this point on. This is round five and I went on to fight another six rounds after this. So yeah, I thought I’d won it but there was still a long, steep mountain to climb against one of the former greats in Vladimir Klitschko. What I learned after this fight is that there are levels. This guy [Klitschko] is the first guy who ever took me to 11 rounds and obviously he had the pedigree to be in that position to do that. For me, I’ve always said that I need to be a cut above the rest, so I went away to improve, change my style and so forth… and it has brought me to where I am today you know. That fight is the fight that brought to this point here and big-time boxing is back.

PICTURE 5: AJ ring-walking with British rapper K-Trap ahead of his win over Jermaine Franklin at The O2 in April last year. 

MC: We’re onto ring walks, how big and how important, of the entire experience, are they to you?

AJ: They’re not so much, because fight focused fight focused. There’s nothing bigger than a victory. It’s not how you walk in; it’s how you walk out. That’s my opinion. But at the same time, I do know it’s not for me, it’s for the crowd. I only do it for the crowd. I’ve walked in with no music before. It is a job. You want to get in there and do your job at the end of the day. All of this stuff here, like Prince Naseem Hamed – what a an entertainer, he was one in a million – but it’s not for everyone.

PICTURE 6: AJ taking a sip of Conor McGregor’s Forged Irish Stout immediately after his seventh-round KO win over Robert Helenius at The O2 in August last year. 

MC: This is Conor McGregor after Robert Helenius last year. Talking about entertainment and the whole package, what do you make of Conor McGregor?

AJ: Conor? Larger than life character. He’s someone that you can take inspiration from. Remember, we’re only here once and you have to love live life. A lot of people are like, each to their own, reserved, quiet and just getting through life. He’s someone that is at the forefront of live and living it to its full capacity in his own right – and I like that about him a lot. I like that about him.

MC: Is there any mileage in talking to him about what’s coming up given he fought Mayweather?

AJ: One million percent there’s mileage in talking to someone like Conor McGregor, and even if it’s just like a small gem. Something is better than nothing.

PICTURE 7: AJ triumphantly celebrating following his fifth-round KO win over Otto Wallin on December’s Day of Reckoning card in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. 

MC: This was taken by a Matchroom staffer at the Day of Reckoning. What does that say? What’s the message here do you think?

AJ: Prayer. Don’t let success get to your head and don’t let failures get to your heart. I was just giving thanks, giving prayer – thankful for another day at the office. Success. I really like that picture.

MC: Three out of three wins in 2023. How do you reflect on the year as a whole? Franklin, Helenius and Wallin.

AJ: It’s in the past. It’s done. I don’t reflect on it in any way. We only look forward.

PICTURE 8: New trainer Ben Davison in the corner during AJ’s win over Otto Wallin at the Kingdom Arena last December. 

MC: Well, let’s look forward to this next one with Ben in the corner. What was fresher? What clicked? Something clearly did.

AJ: Belief. You believe in something. And I listened. I meet a lot of people that want advice but I know they don’t believe in what I’m saying, because they don’t believe in themselves probably. I believe in Ben, so what he is saying is just clicking.

MC: Which philosophy would you follow then; fighters make the trainer or trainers make the fighter?

AJ: Trainers make the fighter. Without a shadow of a doubt. You can’t do it by yourself. You can, but you can’t do it for a long time. Every good fighter has had a great trainer. Well the ones that I admire anyway. Even though people will say, ‘oh he trained himself half of the time’, that’s rubbish. Training isn’t just like throw a jab here and throw a jab there, it’s also like your approach, the gems and the wisdom that you get. The environment that a trainer creates. It’s more than just a trainer showing you how to throw a punch. It’s the mindset it takes to land that punch, and if it doesn’t land what happens when it doesn’t land. It’s all of that. Trainers are more than just someone who teaches you how to throw a right hand.

MC: What’s the role of Derrick James, if any?

AJ: He’s cool. That’s my guy if I’m in the States. I don’t just want to train for the fight. I want to continue training. I spoke to Derrick and Derrick rates Ben a lot. He wants to make sure I’m in safe hands. He was like, ‘yeah he’s a very good coach, I’m glad you’re in safe hands’. I feel like I’m in safe hands as well. The relationship is still good. But I’m going to be based in the UK.

PICTURE 9: A black and white portrait of AJ showing his Africa tattoo on his right shoulder.

MC: This was taken some time ago; it was in the Matchroom archive. The tattoo. This deep into your career, what does all of this still mean to you and your identify, Anthony?

AJ: Continue to search for greatness. Keep standing up tall in the face of adversity and in positive times. Back straight, stand up tall and just keep on walking forwards. Life if life, life can happen. Life will happen. So many things happen. I don’t want to start going into everything but when life does happen always stand tall. That’s it.

MC: That’s a map of Africa. Nigeria is pinpointed. Next door is Cameroon from where Francis Ngannou comes from. Is there extra inspiration here for youngsters all across that massive country that you can spread?

AJ: 100 percent there is. There’s a lot of inspiration they can take. Right now we’re at war though. There’s a civil war happening.

MC: And it’s the 50^th anniversary this year of the Rumble in the Jungle.

AJ: I said that you know. It does resemble that in a way right.

PICTURE 10: A black a white photo of AJ white the text ‘three-time?’.

MC: So the last one; three-time. I remember being on the ring apron for the rematch again Ruiz in Saudi Arabia, and before I even asked you a question you shouted two-time. How big is that this year?

AJ: It is big. I’m not looking past Ngannou. That’s my main focus. But we’re talking about the pictures. What I’m trying to say is there’s nothing bigger in sport than winning a trophy and in my sport it’s winning a belt, a Heavyweight Championship belt man. That’s massive. That’s what I go back to that picture before – perseverance. Keep on pushing, keep on searching. That’s why we’re going for the third time. How good can I be? And from that journey from the Olympics not knowing where I’m going, imagine now I’ve got a target, I know where I’m going, that red carpet is already laid out for me. All I need to do is arrive at the destination.

MC: And that kid we showed at the Olympics all the way back there might not be in the same company as Ali, Holyfield, Lennox Lewis – these three World Champions.

AJ: Mad. But you know what’s crazy about it all? No one ever lives forever to tell their legacy. We’re all going to pass on. So you’ve got to do your best while you’re here. That’s when you go back to that McGregor picture and you ask me about McGregor, someone who lives and loves life. While you’re here live love life, be confident, flamboyant, be an extrovert, don’t be shy – because at the end of the day when it’s all said and done, you only get one experience and one chance at life.

 •  Otabek Kholmatov 125.8 lbs. vs. Raymond Ford 125.9 lbs
(Vacant WBA Featherweight World Title – 12 Rounds)

   •  Luis Alberto Lopez 125.3 lbs vs. Reiya Abe 125.8 lbs
(Lopez’s IBF Featherweight World Title — 12 Rounds)

•  Brian Norman Jr. 147.2 lbs vs. Janelson Bocachica 146.6 lbs
 (Welterweight— 10 Rounds)

•  Bryce Mills 138.7 lbs vs. Gerffred Ngayot 138.7 lbs
 (Junior Welterweight— 6 Rounds)

•  Troy Isley 159.3 lbs vs. Marcos Hernandez 160.6 lbs
 (Middleweight — 8 Rounds)

•   Rohan Polanco 142.9 lbs vs. Tarik Zaina 142.4 lbs
 (Junior Welterweight— 8 Rounds)

•   Floyd Diaz 118 lbs vs. Edwin Rodriguez 117.8 lbs
 (Bantamweight — 8 Rounds)

•   Nico Ali Walsh 156.9 lbs vs. Charles Stanford 155.1 lbs
 (Middleweight — 6 Rounds)

•   Brandon Moore 242 lbs vs. Helaman Olguin 281.7 lbs
 (Heavyweight — 8 Rounds)

Legendary boxing journalist Jim Lampley returns to PPV.COM (which does not require a subscription),to co-host his popular and exclusive live viewer chat, in real time, during PPV.COM‘s live stream of the upcoming boxing event headlined by the Anthony Joshua vs. Francis Ngannou heavyweight rumble, Next Friday, March 8, beginning at 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT.  The Joshua-Ngannou heavyweight rumble will emanate from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.  Priced at $69.99, the Joshua-Ngannou event can be ordered by clicking here PPV.COM | Joshua vs. Ngannou.Below, please find Jim’s analysis of Joshua vs. Ngannou

Jim Lampley’s Analysis

“It’s obvious there are games of tag now ongoing both in boxing’s heavyweight division and in the relevant/irrelevant relationship between boxing and MMA.  Their effects show up as both logical (Joshua fighting the MMA star who made a sudden splash against his primary competitor for heavyweight attention in Great Britain) and illogical (Joshua projecting that it MEANS something to his boxing identity to do better against an MMA star than Fury did).  

“So how much irrelevance will the combat sports market bear?  Apparently, plenty. But having diluted some of his stardom both via a silly satellite TV vanity/reality show and then via the shock knockdown and disputed outcome of his tussle with Francis Ngannou, the once and future heavyweight champion Fury now turns back to serious business vs Oleksandr Usyk, the Ukrainian technician who twice outboxed Anthony Joshua somewhat in the shadow of Fury’s dramatic showdowns with Deontay Wilder. 

“Joshua lost some, not all, of his once-majestic aura in the two small margin losses to Usyk.  Ngannou is obviously something entirely different.  As time goes by and there are more and more boxing matches governed by boxing rules between boxers (Joshua) and MMA combatants (Ngannou), it’s clear the technical gap is closing, and the MMA stars are finding more ways to compete — see Fury-Ngannou and the disputed razor-thin decision.  But at the end of the day this fight, like its predecessors, takes place under boxing rules and that is still an advantage for Joshua.  And with his very near miss against Fury, Ngannou has supplied Joshua with a potentially vital wake-up call, a useful scouting report, and massive motivation to gain public relations ground by indirectly embarrassing Fury.  

“So, at this juncture, en route to Joshua v. Ngannou, there are some clear objectives in view.”

·         “For Joshua, make sure the boxing match is a BOXING match.  Use your jab, stay out of clinches, don’t get into a wrestling match against the rarity of a larger, stronger man.”

·         “For Ngannou, shoot the moon, take risks, swing big when you see the target, maybe this time the knockdown will stick.  Listen carefully to Mike Tyson if he is again in your camp, because a long time ago, Mike was classically trained by a legendary trainer, and he knows, as well as any active heavyweight, the technical realities of boxing.” 

“If in the coming months both Fury and Joshua win, it is on to the dream matchup in Wembley Stadium British boxing fans have dreamed of for years.  If Usyk and Ngannou win, that is forgotten, and we keep moving onward into the brave new combat world.”  

***********************************

PPV.COM, which does not require a subscription, will offer Joshua vs. Ngannou in the U.S. and Canada.  iNDEMAND, the parent company of PPV.COM, will also be carrying the event through its network of cable and telco operators in the U.S. and Canada via providers including, Xfinity, Spectrum, Contour, Optimum, Fios, Rogers, Bell, SaskTel, and Telus, among others.

JIM LAMPLEY

Jim is a recipient of the Boxing Writers Association of America’s (BWAA) Sam Taub Award for Excellence in Broadcasting Journalism and was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in its 2015 class.  He served as anchor and commentator for “HBO World Championship Boxing” for 30 years and has covered numerous Olympic Games during his long and distinguished career in sports broadcasting.

About iNDEMAND and PPV.COM

iNDEMAND is an innovative partnership among three of the leading cable companies in the U.S.– Charter Communications, Comcast Cable, and Cox Communications. iNDEMAND is a company of trusted content aggregators and licensing experts, with unparalleled technical expertise and long-standing relationships with MVPDs, major sports leagues, Hollywood studios, and other entertainment and sports companies across North America. iNDEMAND delivers great content to more than 60 million cable homes and has distribution deals with more than 90 companies.  In December 2021, iNDEMAND launched PPV.COM, an innovative streaming PPV service and the first of its kind to offer interactive fan engagement during live-action sports.  With the addition of PPV.COM, which does not require a subscription, to its existing cable PPV infrastructure, iNDEMAND has consolidated all forms of PPV distribution under one roof, making the company the only provider of turnkey PPV solutions for both industry partners and consumers.  For more information, go to indemand.com.

Stephanie Han 134.5 – Nikola Izova 136

Jorge Tovar 163 – Keithland King 160

Amy Salinas 113 – Alexis Mone 115

Bree Howling 117 – Noemi Bosques 118

Brittany Sims 119 – Beata Dudek 118

Victor Aranda 154.5- Tevin Watson 155

Alex McGee 124.5 – Jose Gabriel Colotla 126

Eljah Akana 213.5 – Calvin Barnett 253

Danielle Perkins 178 – Timin Nagy 180.5

Promoter: King’s Promotions

Venue: El Paso County Coliseum

1st Bell: 9 PM ET / 7 PM MT

Stream: BXNGTV.com (Marc Abrams on the call)

LONG BEACH, CA (February 29, 2024) – Get ready for an electrifying night of boxing action as CBN Promotions proudly presents their second show of 2024, set to take place at Thunder Studios in Long Beach, California. In the 8-round super welterweight main event, local favorite Louis Lopez (14-2-2, 5 KOs), hailing from Corona, CA, will step into the ring to face off against the undefeated Jesus Resendiz (8-0-1, 6 KOs) from San Diego, CA. With both fighters eager to prove themselves on the main-event stage, this showdown is sure to be a slugfest from start to finish.

Adding to the excitement, the co-main event will feature a compelling 6-round super welterweight bout showcasing Nelson Oliva (10-0, 8 KOs) representing Los Angeles, CA, against Franyerson Puerta (5-3, 5 KOs) fom Denver, CO. With Oliva’s impressive record and knockout power, fans can expect fireworks as he looks to maintain his undefeated streak.

The entire event will be broadcast live on Fubo Sports and on tape delay on Fox Deportes and Estrella TV. Doors open and at 5:00 pm PT with the first bout beginning at 6:00 pm PT. Tickets priced $55, $75, $100, $150 (Plus applicable fees), are available for purchase now by calling Ticketon at 800-688-8080, or online at www.cbnpromotions.com or www.ticketon.com. Thunder Studios is located at 20434 S Santa Fe Ave, Long Beach, CA 90810

“We are excited to bring another exciting night of boxing to Thunder Studios,” said Alex Camponovo, President of CBN Promotions. “With a stacked lineup of talented fighters and 50/50 matchups, this event promises to deliver another unforgettable experience for fight fans in Long Beach and beyond.”

“Get ready for an amazing ride as we improve our boxing events and bring them to more people,” said Rolando Nichols, President of Thunder Studios. “We want to welcome the Long Beach community and nearby areas to join us for our shows. It’s a fun, family-friendly environment where everyone can have a great time watching exciting boxing matches.”

With Thunder Studios serving as the backdrop for this epic night of boxing, attendees can expect top-notch production values and a lively atmosphere that will keep them on the edge of their seats throughout the evening. 

UNDERCARD BOUTS:

Bantamweight George Navarro (8-3-1, 4 KOs), from Los Angeles, CA, vs. MJ Bo (9-5-2, 5 KOs), from Manila, Philippines. (6-rounds).

Super featherweight Eric Mondragon (8-1-1, 4 KOs) of Maywood, CA, will face Jenel Lausa (9-3-1, 5 KOs), from Manila, Philippines. (6-rounds).

Super lightweight Leonardo Rubalcava (5-0, 2 KOs) from Jurupa Valley, CA, will face Walter Raul Saravia (4-7, 1 KO) from Catamarca, Argentina. (6-rounds).

Opening up the show will be bantamweight Peter Henry Acosta (Pro Debut), from Santa Ana, CA, vs. an opponent TBA. (4-rounds).

This event is sponsored by HUSTLER Casino – LA’s only luxury Casino. Tequila Mandala – 100% Agave Azul, Shoe Palace – Community comes first, and Northgate Market.

LINCOLN, RI – CES Boxing returns to Rhode Island on Saturday, March 23, with a huge doubleheader at Bally’s Twin River Lincoln Casino.  

The popular Jimmy Burchfield Classic Invitational amateur showcase kicks off the day’s festivities at 2pm, followed by a stacked professional boxing card beginning at 7pm EST.

Tickets available soon at CES Fights and the Twin River Lincoln Casino box office, priced at $60, $80, $155, and $180 for the pro card and $40 general admission, $50 VIP for the amateur showcase.

Dominican sensation Alejandro “El Abusador” Paulino (16-0, 13 KOs) gets his first main event assignment on the pro card, battling Estivan “Tunny” Falcao (13-3, 7 KOs) in an 8-round lightweight showdown.

While many believe that the New London, CT resident is destined to become CES Boxing’s next world champion, in his way is a tough-as-nails Brazilian who is no stranger to ruining undefeated records.    

In the co-feature, popular New Bedford, MA welterweight Wilson “Ill Will” Mascarenhas (9-1, 3 KOs) faces battle-tested Dominican Braulio “El Chavo” Rodriguez (20-9, 17 KOs) in a 6-round contest.

Mascarenhas, who recently re-signed with CES Boxing, looks forward to making 2024 a big year after going 3-0 with 1 knockout in 2023.  The Portuguese native faces a wily veteran in Rodriguez who has shared the ring with 2-time world title challenger Christopher “Pitufo” Diaz, jr. welterweight star Ryan Garcia, and lightweight prospect Ashton Sylve. 

A vacant New England Lightweight championship will be on the line when Brockton, MA’s “King” Kevin Walsh (11-0, 5 KOs) meets 18-fight veteran Matt “The Mantis” Doherty in an 8-round slugfest. 

Walsh, who is fresh off a highlight reel, one punch knockout of Darrell Rivera only 3 weeks ago, is looking to capitalize on that momentum with his first professional title. 

Springfield, MA’s Jalen Renaud (9-0, 3 KOs) is in the toughest test of his young career, facing Puerto Rico’s Josniel Castro (11-1, 8 KOs) in what is sure to be a jr. middleweight firefight. 

Several other top New England prospects are featured on the card, including East Haven welterweight prospect Jeff Gonzalez (4-0, 2 KOs), Dorchester lightweight puncher Tevin Regis (2-0, 1 KO), popular Norton, MA featherweight Melanie Costa (2-0, 1 KO), the pro debut of Johnston welterweight Kevin Mojica, and the return of undefeated Bridgeport super featherweight prospect Jacob Marrero (4-0, 3 KOs) after a 5-year hiatus.

Prior to the pro card, fans will be treated to the Jimmy Burchfield Classic Invitational amateur showcase, a USA boxing sanctioned card featuring many of the best prospects in the United States. 

Come and witness the present and future of boxing on what is sure to be another unforgettable night of CES Boxing action!

For more information, follow CES Boxing on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter at @CESBOXING.

INFORMATION

CES Boxing is one of the top promotions on the East Coast.  Founded in 1992 by Jimmy Burchfield Sr., CES Boxing has promoted many world class fighters, including Jamaine Ortiz, Juiseppe Cusumano, Hank Lundy, Vinny Paz, Peter Manfredo, Mariusz Wach, Jason Estrada, Matt Godfrey, Chad Dawson and Ray Oliveira. CES Boxing has promoted such super fights as “The Thriller on Triller: Tyson v Jones Jr.”, “Mayweather vs. Gotti III” and “The Contender: Manfredo v Pemberton”.

VERONA, N.Y. (Feb. 29, 2024) — Uzbek phenom Otabek Kholmatov (12-0, 11 KOs) will lock horns against American standout Raymond Ford (14-0-1, 7 KOs) for the vacant WBA featherweight world title this Saturday, March 2 at Turning Stone Resort Casino.

This battle of unbeaten southpaws will see the WBA’s No.1 and No. 2 contenders compete in their first world title bouts.

In the co-feature, Luis Alberto “El Venado” Lopez (29-2, 16 KOs) defends his IBF featherweight crown against Japanese contender Reiya Abe (25-3-1, 10 KOs).

Kholmatov-Ford & Lopez-Abe headline a loaded bill streaming live and exclusively in the U.S. on ESPN+ beginning at 5:20 p.m. ET/2:20 p.m. PT. The co-feature is scheduled to begin at approximately 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.

The ESPN+-streamed action includes welterweight standout Brian Norman Jr. (25-0, 19 KOs), who takes on Janelson Bocachica (17-2-1, 11 KOs) in a 10-rounder, and the return of middleweight prospect Nico Ali Walsh (9-1, 5 KOs), who sees action in a six-rounder versus Charles Stanford (7-5, 4 KOs).

Promoted by Top Rank, tickets are on sale at the Turning Stone Resort Casino Box Office, charge by phone by calling 800.771.7711, or online at Ticketmaster.com.

At Thursday’s press conference, this is what the fighters had to say.

Otabek Kholmatov

“It has been my dream to fight for a world title. I’ve been training my whole life for this. I’m ready.”

“I love to fight. That’s all I have done in my life. So, I’m going to bring the fight on Saturday.”

“I’m very well prepared. It’s been a great training camp. Great sparring. Great coaches. Everything went well, and we are prepared for the fight.”

“Fighting for all the titles is a dream come true. Every fighter wants to become undisputed. That is the goal for me.”

Raymond Ford

“This means the world to me. I’ve been fighting my whole life for this opportunity. It’s finally here, and I’m going to take full advantage of it.”

“Shakur Stevenson is like a big brother to me. I’ve been sparring with him since I was in the amateurs. It’s really no different. Just now it’s more intense. It’s great always going to Houston. I get away from home and distractions. I can fully lock in, and that’s been the difference from my past few camps.”

“I’m willing to stay for one more fight at 126 if it’s to defend against a champion or a big money fight. If it makes sense, I’m definitely here for it. But it has to be right away. If not, I’m moving up to 130.”

Luis Alberto Lopez

“I’m anxious to step into the ring and anxious deliver a great fight to the people.”

“We know he’s a fighter who likes to move a lot. He likes to be on his toes and moving backward. But if he wants to be the new champion, he’s going to have to come here and fight. We will do everything possible to win early.”

“I’ve been looking for a unification fight for quite some time. When Mauricio Lara was a champion, I wanted to unify with him. When Robeisy Ramirez was a champion, I wanted to fight him. I’ve been asking for it.

“The faster a unification fight happens, the better for me. It would be great for my career.”

Reiya Abe

“I think Lopez is a good champion. But this will be the day that I show that I’m the best at 126 pounds.”

“The level of boxing in Japan has been improving, and I’m pleased to have been recognized there. The pressure has increased, but I consider it to be necessary to become stronger.”

“I believe that bringing back a victory is the best way to give back to everyone who has supported me.”

Nico Ali Walsh

“I’m back in the U.S. I’m back on home turf. I’ve made a lot of improvements in my last fight that a lot of people haven’t seen. So, you’re going to see a bigger jump in improvement. I’m really excited to show it.”

Brian Norman Jr.

“I’ve been in the same since I was seven. This is all I know. All I know is to throw hands. I won a WBO International belt, but it don’t mean nothing to me until I win a main belt. It was just one step to get to the big goal, which is to be undisputed in the welterweight division.”

Bryce Mills

“It’s always exciting to fight here and be able to have family and friends come out and watch me. There’s no better place to fight than in your backyard. So, it’s very exciting, and I feed off that energy.”

Saturday, March 2

FIRST BELL: ESPN+ (5:20 p.m. ET/2:20 p.m. PT)
 

Otabek Kholmatov vs. Raymond Ford, 12 rounds, Vacant WBA Featherweight World Title 

Luis Alberto Lopez vs. Reiya Abe 12 rounds, Lopez’s IBF Featherweight World Title 

Brian Norman Jr. vs. Janelson Bocachica, 10 rounds, WBO International Welterweight Title 

Floyd Diaz vs. Edwin Rodriguez, 8 rounds, bantamweight

Nico Ali Walsh vs. Charles Stanford, 6 rounds, middleweight

Brandon Moore vs. Helaman Olguin, 8 rounds, heavyweight

Las Vegas – UFC^® returns to UFC APEX with an action-packed five-round main event featuring No. 5 ranked middleweight contender Marvin Vettori and No. 7 Brendan Allen. In addition, an exciting battle in the bantamweight division sees No. 11 ranked Norma Dumont take on returning former featherweight champion Germaine de Randamie.

UFC FIGHT NIGHT^®: VETTORI vs. ALLEN takes place Saturday, April 6 in Las Vegas and will be available exclusively on ESPN+ (English and Spanish). The prelims will start at 3 p.m. ET / 12 p.m. PT, followed by the main card at 6 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. PT. 

Former title challenger Vettori (19-7-1, fighting out of Mezzocorona, Italy) intends to start the year strong with a win in his pocket. Vettori is a versatile competitor who has claimed victories over Roman Dolidze, Paulo Costa, and Jack Hermansson. “The Italian Dream” now looks to deliver a finishing performance against Allen in the hope of gaining momentum for another shot at the title.

Allen (23-5, fighting out of Milwaukee, Wisc.) is currently on a hot streak with six straight wins under his belt. A powerful grappler with a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, he owns impressive submissions over Paul Craig, Bruno Silva, and Andre Muniz. Allen now hopes to prolong his win streak with a powerful showing against Vettori.

Brazil’s Dumont (10-2, fighting out of Belo Horizonte, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil)is determined to break into the bantamweight Top 10 with a stellar performance. Securing six wins in her last seven fights, Dumont has quickly risen through the rankings as she collected victories against Chelsea Chandler, Karol Rosa, and Danyelle Wolf. She’s now determined to make her mark with a big win.

De Randamie (10-4, fighting out of Utrecht, Netherlands) returns to action for the first time since 2020 in hopes for a chance at redemption for the bantamweight title. A former UFC featherweight champion, de Randamie boasts triumphs over Julianna Pena, Aspen Ladd, and Holly Holm. She’s now ready to assert her dominance in the Octagon once again in search of victory.

Additional bouts on the card include: 

• Trevor Peek (9-1 1NC, fighting out of Chattanooga, Tenn.) sets his sights on fellow lightweight Charlie Campbell (8-2, fighting out of Long Island, N.Y.)
• Featherweights Alexander Hernandez (14-7, fighting out of Denver, Colo. by way of San Antonio, Texas) and Damon Jackson(22-6-1, fighting out of Dallas, Texas) collide
• Alatengheili (16-9-2, fighting out of Beijing, China) squares off with Victor Hugo (24-4, fighting out of Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil) in a bantamweight bout
• Josh Fremd (11-5, fighting out of Pittsburgh, Penn.) meets undefeated Dana White’s Contender Series signee Cesar Almeida (4-0, fighting out of Sao Paulo, Brazil) at middleweight
• Piera Rodriguez (9-1, fighting out of Maracaibo, Venezuela) takes on Cynthia Calvillo (9-6-1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev.) at strawweight
• Welterweights Court McGee (22-12, fighting out of Orem, Utah) and Alex Morono (23-9, fighting out of Houston, Texas) battle it out
• Undefeated Valter Walker (11-0, fighting out of Moscow, Russia. by Rio das Ostras, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) looks to take down Lukasz Brzeski (8-4-1 1NC, fighting out of Nowy Targ, Poland) at heavyweight
• Bantamweights Jose Johnson (16-8, fighting out of Copperas Cove, Texas) and Lucas Rocha (17-1, fighting out of Coari, Amazonas, Brazil) meet
• Dan Argueta (9-1 2NC, fighting out of Albuquerque, N.M.) faces off with undefeated Dana White’s Contender Series signee Jean Matsumoto (14-0, fighting out of Braganca Paulista, Sao Paulo, Brazil) in a bantamweight bout
• Nora Cornolle (7-1, fighting out of Epinay Sur Seine, France) and Melissa Dixon (6-0, fighting out of Coventry, England) look to impress in an exciting bantamweight battle
• Ignacio Bahamondes (14-5, fighting out of Chicago, Ill. by way of Santiago, Chile) clashes with Christos Giagos (20-11, fighting out of Deerfield Beach, Fla.) at lightweight

For the latest information on additional bouts for this event, please visit www.ufc.com. All bouts are live and subject to change. Please click?here?to apply for the event. 

### 

About UFC^® 

UFC^® is the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization (MMA), with more than 700 million fans and 243 million social media followers. The organization produces more than 40 live events annually in some of the most prestigious arenas around the world while broadcasting to over 900 million TV households across more than 170 countries. UFC’s athlete roster features the world’s best MMA athletes representing more than 80 countries. The organization’s digital offerings include UFC FIGHT PASS^®, one of the world’s leading streaming services for combat sports. UFC is part of TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO) and is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC and @UFC on X, Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok: @UFC. 

About ESPN+ 

https://espnpressroom.com/us/espnplus/

About ESPN 

ESPN, the world’s leading sports entertainment brand, features eight U.S. television networks, direct-to-consumer ESPN+, ESPN Radio, ESPN.com, endeavors on every continent around the world, and more.?ESPN is 80 percent owned by ABC, Inc. (an indirect subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company) and 20 percent by Hearst. 

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas (Feb. 29, 2024) — Following an accelerated amateur career that saw him secure two national titles, super middleweight prospect “King” Julian Delgado is ready to launch his pro career in front of his hometown fans.
 
Delgado will face an opponent to be named in a four-round special attraction on Saturday, April 13, at American Bank Center in Corpus Christi, Texas. Delgado’s pro debut and the rest of the undercard will stream live and exclusively on ESPN+.
 
The ESPN-televised tripleheader (10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT) will feature a pair of 10-round heavyweight showdowns, as unbeaten phenom Jared “The Real Big Baby” Anderson steps up in class to face Belgian contender Ryad Merhy.
 
In the co-feature, Nigerian puncher Efe Ajagba and Italian standout Guido “The Gladiator” Vianello will collide in a showdown between 2016 Olympians.
 
The eight-round televised opener will see Brazilian Olympic gold medalist Robson Conceição taking on Mexico’s Jose Guardado.
 
Promoted by Top Rank, tickets go on sale Tuesday, March 5 at 10 a.m. CST via Ticketmaster.com.
 
Delgado’s journey in the sweet science began not long ago, in 2021. Nevertheless, he quickly found his calling and secured two National and State titles across an almost 40-fight amateur career. In 2023, the 22-year-old etched his name in Texas history by becoming the first Corpus Christi native to secure a National Golden Gloves title in four decades, following in the footsteps of former junior featherweight world champion Jesse Benavides. Less than a year later, Delgado is gearing up for his start in the paid ranks.
 
Delgado said, “This is a moment I have been manifesting and have been working towards day in day out for the last two years of my life. I cannot wait to shine in front of my friends and family and put on an exciting fight that showcases just how bright my future is. This is an opportunity to prove myself and demonstrate the hard work and dedication that has brought me to this point.”

 6×3 rounds welterweight contest

Elliot Whale 149lbs
Fernando Mosquera weighing in tomorrow

6×3 rounds super featherweight contest

Gully Power 129lbs
Angelo Turco 134lbs

6×3 rounds welterweight contest

Kaisee Benjamin 150.9lbs
Berman Sanchez 155.11lbs

4×3 rounds welterweight contest

Nick Leahy 147.11lbs
Jake Osgood 145.11lbs

UNDERCARD LIVE FROM 7PM ON DAZN

4×3 rounds featherweight contest

Tom Welland 126lbs
Esteban Troestch 121.1lbs

MAKE A KNOCKOUT BET WITH LADBROKES
Abass Baraou 1/2
Draw 16/1
Sam Eggington 7/4

8×3 super featherweight contest

Sultan Zuarbek 134.8lbs
Victor Julio 135.12lbs

4×3 heavyweight contest

Matty Harris 269.9lbs
Amine. Boucetta 231.11lbs

BBBofC Southern Area Super Middleweight title
10×3 rounds

Andrei Dascalu 166.12lbs
Joe Jackson-Brown 170lbs

6×3 middleweight contest

Ryan Kelly 163.6lbs
Ioan Alexandru Lutic 163.3lbs

LIVE ON CHANNEL 5 AT 10PM

EBU European Super Welterweight title
12×3 rounds

Abass Baraou 153.8lbs
Sam Eggington 153.11lbs

6×3 rounds super welterweight

Dan Toward 154.13lbs
Frank Madsen 154.10lbs

BROOKLYN, N.Y. (Feb. 29, 2024) – Tickets for the WBC Super Lightweight World Championship fight between current champion Devin “The Dream” Haney (31-0, 15 KOs) and international PPV star “King” Ryan Garcia (24-1, 20 KOs) will kick off tomorrow, Friday, March 1. The 12-round clash is presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Haney Promotions, KingRy Promotions, and Matchroom Boxing. The mega-event will take place at Barclays Center in Brooklyn on Saturday, April 20, exclusively live on DAZN PPV.

Tickets go on-sale at 10:00 a.m. ET and start at $100 plus applicable fees. A limited amount of Golden Boy VIP Experience tickets will also be available for purchase with exclusive merchandise and fight night upgrades included. Standard and VIP tickets can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com or GoldenBoy.com.

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Haney vs. Garcia is a 12-round fight for the WBC Super Lightweight World Championship that is presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Haney Promotions, KingRy Promotions, and Matchroom Boxing. The event will take place on Saturday, April 20 on DAZN PPV live from Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

The event will be available worldwide to all subscribers on DAZN, both live and on demand.

Magna Media will be handling credentials for this fight. Media interested in applying for a fight night credential must fill out an application by EOD Friday, April 5, 2024. Link to application can be found at https://bit.ly/HaneyGarciaFightNightCreds.

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com and DAZN.com. Follow on Twitter @GoldenBoyBoxing and @DAZNBoxing. Become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoy and https://www.facebook.com/DAZN. Follow on Instagram @GoldenBoy and @DAZNBoxing. Follow the conversation using #HaneyGarcia

Kalle Sauerland, Global Head of Boxing at Wasserman, said: “This is a real throwback fight, and for the mainstream sports fan tuning in, this is Germany vs England and for the European championship.
“Abass is very slick, he finds the shot and he lands it, and looks to take you out of there.  Sam Eggington wears his heart on his sleeve and comes forwards, forwards, forwards.  Reverse?  No, not even on the register.  A guy who has won Fight of the Year twice and he’s only 30-years-old!  So you know this is going to be a night that is going to be a great advertisement for boxing.”

MAKE A KNOCKOUT BET WITH LADBROKES
Abass Baraou 1/2
Draw 16/1
Sam Eggington 7/4
Abass Baraou said: “I am just ready to fight anyone and be in the fights that will push me towards world title fights, that is the only thing I want.
“We are finally in fight week, I feel good, I feel great and I can’t wait for Friday night.
“I know Sam is a tough fighter who comes forward all night, he has been in wars and he has a lot of experience, but this is what I’m looking for and I can’t wait.
“I wasn’t aware that Sam has been involved in two Fight of the Year fights, but this doesn’t mean anything to me.  I am expecting to deal with everything he brings in the ring.”

Sam Eggington said: “Anyone who has watched me box before, knows I have one style and that is to get the job done – and we don’t get paid overtime.
“I have Plan A and my job is to make Plan A work.  From the moment I signed for this fight, I have had the feeling that it will catch fire at some point.  How soon it catches fire, is up to Abass because I don’t back down from a scrap.
“I don’t think this fight will go the 12 rounds.”

LOS ANGELES – February 28, 2024 – Top super welterweight contender Sebastian Fundora and hard-hitting Serhii Bohachuk will meet for the vacant WBC Super Welterweight World Championship on Saturday, March 30, but it will be far from the first time they’ve shared a ring, as Fundora explained ahead of his opening bout on the PBC Pay-Per-View available on Prime Video from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

“We used to spar Bohachuk all the time,” said Fundora. “I sparred him a lot before I faced Ve’Shawn Owens and the fight after that. We stopped sparring around 2019, maybe early 2020. Bohachuk and I have sparred thousands of rounds together. But that’s in the past, we’re both in different places now as fighters.

“It’s an honor to have shared so many rounds with him. I wouldn’t rather have my first world title fight against anybody else. He’s a come forward fighter who throws a lot. I know he might be stronger now, but that same aggressive style is what I see. My job is to show the difference between us on March 30.”

A native of Coachella, California, Fundora and his father and trainer Freddy have moved training camp up to the Tehachapi mountains in Southern California. Despite the change in scenery, little has changed for the close-knit team.

“We’re up in the mountains this time with the snow, rain and bears, but other than that it’s the same camp and same team that’s gotten us to this point,” said Fundora. “We’ve been getting great work here so far and we’re on track for March 30. For me, training camp is about doing what I’m told. It’s a small circle, and my dad is the leader of it all. If I get out of line, he’s right there to show us the better path.”

Fundora will return to the ring for the first time since suffering the first and only defeat of his pro career, via KO last April against Brian Mendoza. Ahead on all three cards at the time of the stoppage, Fundora explained how he was able to move on quickly from the defeat and while there are some changes that have been made, his signature all-action style remains.

“The next day after the loss we went hunting,” said Fundora. “My dad told me not to worry about it too much. As fast as you go up in this sport, you can go down. I took maybe a month off to enjoy myself, but then I was right back into camp. We took more of a ‘washing the hands’ type of approach to the loss. All you’re really going to see from going back is the knockout. During the fight, I know I was ahead, but it went the way it went. So you have to throw it all out and move on.

“I’m a more mature Towering Inferno, but fans can expect a show like always. I don’t plan on taking that out of my game. But overall it’s going to be the best Sebastian Fundora.”

As he heads into March 30, Fundora will look to become the second world champion in his family, after his younger sister Gabriela captured the IBF Flyweight World Championship last October. For the elder son, he believes it’s an opportunity to stamp the legacy of his father’s training talent.

“It’s a blessing to be in this position. My sister just won a title, so it’s time for me to catch up,” said Fundora. “It’s my turn and I’m happy that if everything goes right, my father will have two world champions. It shows how good of a coach he is, even if he likes to stay behind the scenes. It shows us that we’re the real deal.”

With a win against Bohachuk, Fundora will be in line for a potential unification opportunity against reigning WBO 154-pound World Champion Tim Tszyu, who competes in the March 30 main event. A possible clash between the two would pit two action fighters, and perhaps the top two fighters overall currently campaigning in the division, against each other.

“Of course I’d want to face Tim Tszyu next if we both win,” said Fundora. “He’s the number one guy in the division and I’d be right under him after my fight. I want that fight and I’ll be waiting for it.”

Tickets for the live event on March 30, which is promoted by TGB Promotions, are available now through AXS.com. The main event is promoted in association with No Limit Boxing.

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ABOUT THURMAN VS. TSZYU & ROLLY VS. PITBULL

The stacked inaugural four-fight PBC Pay-Per-View available on Prime Video is topped by two-time world champion Keith “One Time” Thurman dueling rising star and reigning world champion Tim Tszyu in the main event plus 140-pound world champion Rolando “Rolly” Romero and Mexican star Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz meeting in the co-main event on Saturday, March 30 from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

The pay-per-view will also see Cuban star and reigning WBA Middleweight World Champion Erislandy “The American Dream” Lara defend his belt against No. 1 rated mandatory challenger Michael Zerafa, plus all-action super welterweight sensation Sebastian “The Towering Inferno” Fundora will meet fast-charging contender Serhii Bohachuk for the vacant WBC Super Welterweight World Championship in the pay-per-view opener.

The card marks the debut event for PBC Pay-Per-View available through Prime Video since the parties announced a landmark, multiyear rights agreement in December. In addition to the PPV being available for purchase on Prime Video, regardless of Prime membership, fans will also be able to continue to access the telecast through traditional cable and satellite outlets.

For more information visit www.PremierBoxingChampions.com, follow #ThurmanTszyu and #RollyPitbull, follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing and @TGBPromotions, on Instagram @PremierBoxing and @TGBPromotionss or become a fan on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions

Argentina’s Sol Cudos and Venezuela’s Roxana Colmenarez will contest the World Boxing Association (WBA) Fedelatin minimum weight belt this Saturday at the F.A.B. Stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina. 

Cudos will be at home and will face a fighter who comes with desire in a fight that looks pretty even if you take into account the record and the rivals of both. 

The local fighter is 26 years old and will be going to her second opportunity for a regional title of the pioneer organization. Last year she disputed this same belt but in the flyweight category and ended in a draw with the Colombian Olga Julio. Now she will be at 105 pounds in search of this belt that eluded her in 2023. 

Colmenarez comes from a unanimous decision loss against the legend Yésica Bopp last December 16, a fight that represented a great test for the Caribbean fighter, who gave a good performance against a high caliber opponent. Now she will have this opportunity to vindicate herself in Argentinean soil and wants to use the experience of that fight to achieve a victory. 

 Dios has 6 wins, 2 draws and 1 knockout. Colmenarez, on the other hand, comes into the fight with 9 wins, 2 setbacks, 1 draw and 7 knockouts.

Julian Smith participated in one of the first World Boxing Association (WBA) super lightweight regional title fights of February. The American fighter knocked out Cuban Orestes Velazquez on February 2 to win the International belt of the pioneer organization. 

Smith dominated the fight from the very first round with an advantage on the scorecards at the end of the ninth round (86-80, 85-81 and 85-81) prove it. The technical knockout at the end was just the icing on the cake for the Illinois native, which took place at the Caribe Royale Hotel in Orlando, Florida. 

Smith, 33, has been making a name for himself through hard work and effort. Being deaf has made him a special case in boxing, but his victories have gotten him to where he is.

His boxing history is also curious because he started boxing at the age of 20 and his training did no start as a child like most of the professional boxers. However, he has shown that talent and hard work pays off. 

Since his debut in 2018 he has been evolving inside the ring, overcoming obstacles and having increasingly complicated opposition. His victory against Velazquez was a sign of that progress. 

Both in life and in the ring he has encountered difficult moments. The passing of his brother in 2012 brought him into boxing and once there he has had to walk a path of adaptation in which he has bounced back from defeats and moved on. 

Smith has raised the flag for his community and is a reference within it. He is now at the top of his game and his recent victory puts him in a great position going forward. 

His victory to start the month puts him with a record of 8 wins, 2 losses and 5 knockouts as he awaits the next challenge in his growing career.

After almost three years the featherweight champion, Amanda Serrano, will fight again in Puerto Rico. This Saturday she will defend her World Boxing Association (WBA) belt, in addition to the IBF and WBO versions against Nina Meinke at the Miguel Argrelot Coliseum, in San Juan, in the main event.

The home fighter will make a new exhibition in her country, where she last fought against Daniela Bermudez in March 2021. Most of Serrano’s career has taken place in the United States, where she has left her flag high and has written her history as one of the best of all time.

Now she will return home for a 12-round, 3-minute bout, her second in a row, with the likes of Jake Paul joining her on the card. Serrano will take part in the main event and will try to keep her winning streak, which now stands at four wins with her last loss coming in 2022 against Katie Taylor in a lightweight fight.

Meinke comes as a visitor and has been preparing in the Dominican Republic to get used to the Caribbean climate. The 30-year-old German comes in with six straight wins and with the intention of hurting the local’s party, a tough challenge but one for which she is fully motivated and confident.

Other young prospects like Krystal Rosado or the young Javon Walton will be in action in this great event that promises to be a full house in San Juan. Serrano has a record of 46 wins, 2 losses, 1 draw and 30 knockouts, while Meinke has 18 wins, 3 losses and 4 knockouts.Serrano to fight at home vs. Meinke.

The fight for the vacant World Boxing Association (WBA) featherweight title between Otabek Kholmatov and Raymond Ford will be one of the most interesting fights this Saturday night at the Turning Stone Resort & Casino in Verona, New York. Two young and undefeated fighters will be competing for the black and gold belt in a fight that looks very evenly matched. 

Kholmatov is ranked No. 1, while Ford is ranked No. 2 and both were ordered to fight each other once the belt was vacated by former champion Leigh Wood’s move up the division. 

Uzbek Kholmatov is 25 years old and began his professional career in 2021. Since then he has been growing rapidly, having resounding victories and his results have moved him to the top of the 126-pound rankings. 

Ford, 24, is a New Jersey native, so he will be close enough to home for his championship fight. He has been able to overcome obstacles and win tough fights, which has given him experience. In his most recent fight he soundly defeated Jessie Magdaleno on the scorecards and that made him ready for this challenge. 

Both fighters are undefeated, young and southpaw, which will give a plus to this fight. Kholmatov has 12 wins, 11 by knockout, while Ford has 14 wins, 1 draw and 7 knockouts.

QUINCY, Mass. (February 28, 2024) – The Sumpter brothers will be fighting on the same card for the first time in 21 months on the March 23rd “Pandemonium at the Palladium 3” card, presented on Granite Chin Promotions (GCP), at the famed Palladium in Worcester, Massachusetts.

“Pandemonium at the Palladium 3” will be streamed live on BXNGTV.com.

Fighting out of Pittsfield (MA), undefeated IBA Americas Super Middleweight Champion Steve “The Savage” Sumpter (9-0, 7 KOs) takes on Antonio Louis “Tony The Best” Hernandez (7-18-2, 4 KOs) in an eight-round, non-title fight, while his older brother, heavyweight Quintin Sumpter (6-2, 4 KOs), faces Zach Calmus (3-2, 2 KOs), of Gloucester (MA), in a four-round bout.

The Sumpters aren’t the only siblings fighting on this card as the fightin’ Whitley brothers, undefeated welterweight Denzel (13-0, 7 KOs) and junior welterweight Derrick Jr. (7-4-1, 0 KOs), will be fighting on the same card as professional boxers.

Junior North American Boxing Federation (NABF) Welterweight Champion Denzel “Double Impact” Whitley will make his first title defense in a rematch with Kenny “Lionheart” Larson (7-1-1, 5 KOs) in the 10-round main event. Last December 19th at The Palladium, Whitley captured the vacant Junior NABF title with a 10-round split decision over the previously unbeaten Larson, who fights out of Salem (MA), by scores of 99-90, 97-92, 92-97, also at The Palladium

Whitley’s older brother, southpaw Derrick, will be fighting former New England Welterweight Champion Mike “Bad Man” Ohan, Jr. (19-2, 9 KOs) in the 10-round co-featured event.

Steve Sumpter was scheduled to fight last week, but his opponent pulled out of the fight late, and he has been added to “Pandemonium at the Palladium 3” show. As Sumpter explained, the delay is only 30 days and he’s stayed in the gym training hard and sparred quality, experienced fighters from Canada, two-time world lightweight heavyweight champion Jean Pascal (36-7-1, 20 KOs) and two-time world middleweight title challenger Steven Butler (33-4-1, 27 KOs).

“It’s been a while since I fought on the same card as my brother,” Steve said. “We feed off each other. We’ve always supported each other whenever we fight whether it’s on the same show or not. We’re fighting not too far from home (Pittsfield, MA) and should have a good crowd there for us.

“I’ve watched my opponent fight on tape. He’s a tough opponent with a deceiving record. He’s fought a lot of good fighters. I never look past anybody because they all have a puncher’s chance. In 2024, I hope to be fighting on a bigger stage because I’m a grinder”

Quintin, who will be fighting on the same card as Steve for the fourth time as professionals, hasn’t fought since last August and he’s raring to go.

“It’s always better for us (brothers) to fight on the same card because we push each other and not nicely,” Quintin explained. “We talk trash but it’s good training. We pretty much have the same fans from Pittsfield, Springfield and New York (where he was born). I love fighting in Worcester; anywhere is good, but at the Palladium we want to perform extra good.

“I know my opponent is a bare-knuckles fighter. He works like a machine and brings a lot more offense than I’m used to. I was a little down after my last fight (controversial loss by decision), but I’ve been working on my offense since then.”

Card subject to change.

Tickets are priced at $50.00 (balcony), $90.00 (mezzanine), $125.00 (floor) and $650.00 (booth of 4) and available for purchase online at www.ThePalladium.net.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. ET, first bout at 7 p.m. ET.

INFORMATION:

Facebook.com/GraniteChin

Las Vegas (February 28, 2024) – 4-Division world champion and Hall of Famer Juan Manuel Marquez has confirmed that he will appear at the Seventh Annual Box Fan Expo on Saturday, May 4, 2024, at the Las Vegas Convention Center from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Expo will also coincide with a mega fight that will take place later that evening in Las Vegas, featuring boxing star Canelo Alvarez.

Marquez will hold a Meet & Greet with his fans at his booth during the fan event held over the Cinco De Mayo weekend. 

The Box Fan Expo is an annual fan event that coincides with some of the sports’ legendary, classic fights in Las Vegas, including Mayweather vs. Maidana II, Mayweather vs. Berto, Canelo vs. Chavez Jr., Canelo vs. GGG II, Canelo vs. Jacobs and Canelo vs. GGG III.  

Centered in boxing’s longtime home – Las Vegas – this year’s Expo is a must-do for fight fans coming in for this legendary weekend, with dozens of professional fighters, promoters, and companies involved in the boxing industry. The Expo is the largest and only Boxing Fan Expo held in the United States. http://boxfanexpo.com – @BoxFanExpo

Tickets to the Box Fan Expo are available at Eventbrite –https://bit.ly/BOXFANEXPO2024

Marquez will make his fourth appearance at this years’ Expo and will be signing gloves, photos, personal items and memorabilia. Marquez will also have merchandise on sale at his booth, and fans will also have an opportunity to take pictures with this boxing legend also known as “Dinamita” 

Marquez joins Michael Spinks, Claressa Shields and Marco Antonio Barrera as an early commitment to this year’s Box Fan Expo, with more Boxing stars to be announced. 

About Juan Manuel Marquez

Marquez is a Mexican former professional boxer who competed from 1993 to 2014. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in the class of 2020. Marquez is the third Mexican boxer (after Erik Morales and Jorge Arce) to become a world champion in four weight classes, having held nine world championships including the WBA (Super), IBF and WBO featherweight titles between 2003 and 2007; the WBC super featherweight title from 2007 to 2008; the WBA (Super), WBO, Ring magazine and lineal lightweight titles between 2008 and 2012; and the WBO junior welterweight title from 2012 to 2013. In a career that spanned over twenty years, Marquez was known for being a fast and highly technical boxer who was exceptionally skilled at combinations and counterpunches, yet also willing to engage in slugfests with opponents. He was also credited for his toughness, and never lost a fight by stoppage. His most notable bouts include his four-fight saga with Manny Pacquiao and his fight against fellow Mexican Marco Antonio Barrera. Marquez is considered to be one of the greatest Mexican boxers of all time, and is ranked by BoxRec as the 30th greatest boxer of all time, as well as second best Mexican fighter of all time, pound for pound. In 2008, The Ring ranked him as the world’s second-best active boxer, pound for pound.

?About Box Fan Expo

Box Fan Expo is the ultimate boxing fan experience event, which allows fans to meet the stars of boxing that represent the past, present and future of the sport. With hosted autograph signings, meet-and-greets with current and former boxing world champions, limited edition merchandise for sale, giveaways and more, this is the ultimate event for fans of the sport.

Past boxing stars that have participated include: Floyd Mayweather, Mike Tyson, Roberto Duran, Sugar Ray Leonard, Julio Cesar Chavez, Juan Manuel Marquez, Tommy Hearns, Roy Jones Jr, Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales, David Benavidez, Teofimo Lopez, Andre Ward, Ryan Garcia, Marcos Maidana, Devin Haney, Mikey Garcia, Errol Spence Jr, Fernando Vargas, Rolando Romero, Sergio Martinez, Tim Bradley, Jose Ramirez, Shawn Porter, Keith Thurman, Danny Garcia, Deontay Wilder, Amir Khan, Abner Mares, James Toney, Jessie Vargas, Floyd Mayweather sr., Claressa Shields, Vinny Paz, Mia St.John, Franchón Crews-Dezurn, Seniesa Estrada, Jorge Linares, Leo Santa Cruz, Badou Jack, Terry Norris, Riddick Bowe, Earnie Shavers, Michael & Leon Spinks, Brandon Rios, Anthony Dirrell, Danny Jacobs, and many more.

Exhibitors include boxing promoters, gear, apparel, equipment, energy drinks, supplement products, broadcasting media, sanctioning bodies, and other companies who showcase their brand to fans and the boxing industry as a whole.

Throughout the next few months leading up to the Event, there will be weekly updates on the many stars that will commit their appearance at the Boxing Expo.

Tickets to the Box Fan Expo are available at Eventbrite –

To request information on exhibiting and sponsorship at the Expo:

For media credentials:

Contact us:

Telephone number: (702) 997-1927 or (514) 572-7222

For any inquiries please email: boxfanexpo@gmail.com

More information on Box Fan Expo visit: http://www.boxfanexpo.com

Follow Box Fan Expo on Twitter and Instagram at: @BoxFanExpo

Follow Box Fan Expo on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/BoxFanExpo

Top Rank Boxing on ESPN presented by AutoZone: Kholmatov vs. Ford will be presented live this Saturday, March 2, at approximately 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT, exclusively on ESPN+. The event takes place at Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, New York.

In the main event, Uzbek phenom Otabek Kholmatov will fight Raymond Ford for the vacant WBA featherweight world title. This duel of unbeaten southpaws will see the WBA’s No.1 and No. 2 contenders making their inaugural world title appearances. 

Kholmatov (12-0, 11 KOs), a former international amateur champion, debuted as a pro in August 2021 and secured nine impressive victories before the year ended. Last March, Kholmatov traveled to enemy territory to battle undefeated British contender Thomas Patrick Ward. The Uzbek powerhouse dropped Ward three times, forcing his corner to throw in the towel in the fifth round.

Ford (14-0-1, 7 KOs) was a two-time national Golden Gloves champion before entering the paid ranks in March 2019. In fifteen pro fights, he has only had one blemish, a draw against then-unbeaten Aaron Perez in March 2021. Since then, the 24-year-old native of Camden, New Jersey, has gone 6-0 with three knockouts, including wins over undefeated prospects Edward Vazquez and Richard Medina, as well as a victory over former world champion Jessie Magdaleno.

In the co-feature, Luis Alberto “Venado” Lopez defends his IBF world crown against Japanese contender Reiya Abe. 

Lopez (29-2, 16 KOs), the fighting pride of Mexicali, Mexico, captured the IBF strap by dethroning Josh Warrington in his hometown of Leeds, England, last December. In May, the 30-year-old traveled to Belfast and beat hometown hero Michael Conlan via fifth-round TKO. Lopez defended his title against division mainstay Joet Gonzalez, emerging victorious via unanimous decision after 12 hard-fought rounds in September. 

Abe (25-3-1, 10 KOs), the IBF No. 1 featherweight contender, suffered a few early-career setbacks before a breakout performance against then-undefeated Ren Sasaki in October 2020. The 30-year-old southpaw is unbeaten in five bouts since the Sasaki triumph. He is coming off a points victory in a world title eliminator against former two-division world champion Kiko Martinez. 

Undercard action, including the returns of Dominican Olympian Rohan Polanco (11-0, 7 KOs) and Nico Ali Walsh (9-1, 5 KOs), begins at 5:20 p.m. ET/ 2:20 p.m. PT. 

Calling the action will be ESPN’s Joe Tessitore, Hall of Famer Timothy Bradley, Jr., Mark Kriegel, and Bernardo Osuna. 

ESPN+: On Demand Shows, Archives & Premium Articles

• Top Rank: Real Time– All-access with top fighters throughout fight week as they work their way to fight night. 
• Who Do U Fight 4?– Learn what drivesthe next generation of Top Rank stars. 
• State of Boxing– Post-show coverage of the biggest fights on ESPN and ESPN+. 
• Best of Boxing Spotlight – An archive of the all-time best Top Rank fights. 

Follow @ESPNRingside: Facebook Instagram X (Twitter) TikTok 

Kholmatov vs. Ford (All Times ET)

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas (Feb. 28, 2024) — Undefeated heavyweight phenom Jared “The Real Big Baby” Anderson is angling for another big knockout. The fighting pride of Toledo, Ohio, steps up in class to face Belgian contender Ryad Merhy on Saturday, April 13, in the 10-round main event at American Bank Center in Corpus Christi, Texas.

In the 10-round heavyweight co-feature, Nigerian puncher Efe Ajagba and Italian standout Guido “The Gladiator” Vianello will meet in a battle of 2016 Olympians.

The eight-round televised opener features three-time world title challenger Robson Conceicao, as he looks to keep his junior lightweight world title hopes alive against the upset-minded Jose Guardado.

Anderson-Merhy, Ajagba-Vianello and Conceição Guardado will be broadcast LIVE on ESPN, ESPN Deportes & ESPN+ at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.

Promoted by Top Rank, tickets go on sale Tuesday, March 5 at 10 a.m. CST via Ticketmaster.com.

“Jared Anderson is the most exciting young heavyweight in the world, and he’s stepping up against his toughest opponent to date. Corpus Christi is a great fight town, and I can’t wait for the fans there to have a front row seat for the future heavyweight champion,” said Top Rank Chairman Bob Arum. “Efe Ajagba is one of the division’s biggest punchers, but Guido Vianello is a skilled fighter who demanded a step up in competition. If you like heavyweights, this is a can’t-miss card.”

Anderson (16-0, 15 KOs) had a banner 2023 that saw him go 3-0 with a pair of knockouts. In April, he ended the unbeaten run of George Arias, stopping the Dominican slickster in only three rounds. Less than three months later, Anderson made his triumphant Toledo homecoming and faced former world champion Charles Martin in front of more than 7,000 adoring fans. Anderson earned a clear 10-round decision over Martin and carried that momentum to Tulsa, Oklahoma, in August, where he stopped Andriy Rudenko in five rounds.

“This is going to be the start of a big year, and I can’t wait to show out in front of the fans in Corpus Christi and everyone watching on ESPN,” Anderson said. “Merhy is a solid fighter, but he has never faced a heavyweight like me. He’ll see that in person on April 13.”

Merhy (32-2, 26 KOs) is an Ivory Coast native who was raised in Belgium, where most of his pro fights have taken place. He won a secondary cruiserweight world title in 2021 and then moved up in weight to pursue heavyweight glory. Merhy saw his seven-bout winning streak end when he dropped a 12-round decision to Kevin Lerena in Lerena’s home country of South Africa. Last December, he traveled to Paris for a bout with hometown hero and Olympic gold medalist Tony Yoka. He upset Yoka by split decision to breathe new life into his heavyweight campaign.

“After ending 2023 with a great performance, I am looking for another great performance, this time on American soil against the ‘future heavyweight hope,’” Merhy said. “What I like about my current position is that I have nothing to prove. I accepted this fight because I don’t see Anderson as a big danger. It’s up to him to prove himself against a small heavyweight like me. I feel no pressure. See you on April 13, Jared.”

Ajagba (19-1, 14 KOs) reignited his career following his first defeat, an October 2021 decision against Frank Sanchez. He began his 2023 campaign in January with a 10-round decision over then-unbeaten Stephan Shaw and continued that momentum with a fourth-round disqualification victory over Zhan Kossobutskiy in August. Ajagba finished the year in grand fashion with November’s fourth-round stoppage over one-time amateur nemesis Joe Goodall.

“I remember Guido from the Rio Olympics, and he is a very skilled and powerful fighter,” Ajagba said. “My goal is to become heavyweight champion, and in order for me to accomplish my dream, I have to be at my best against Guido.” 

Vianello (12-1-1, 10 KOs) suffered a stroke of bad luck on the Ajagba-Shaw undercard, losing via sixth-round TKO to Jonnie Rice due to a cut eye caused by a punch. He was leading on the cards when the fight was stopped. Vianello bounced back nine months later, shutting out veteran Curtis Harper over eight rounds. He then returned to his knockout ways in February, blasting out Moses Johnson in one round on the O’Shaquie Foster-Abraham Nova undercard in New York City.

Vianello said, “This is a big opportunity for me to fight one of the top heavyweights in the world, and I did not hesitate when it was offered. I am ready to step up to the plate, and I look forward a great fight on April 13.”

Conceição (17-2-1, 8 KOs), Brazil’s first-ever Olympic boxing gold medalist, turned pro in November 2016. He dropped decisions in world title contests to Oscar Valdez and Shakur Stevenson, and in November 2023, he recovered from a pair of knockdowns to salvage a draw against three-weight world champion Emanuel Navarrete. Guardado (15-1-1, 5 KOs), from Ensenada, Mexico, has never fought outside of his home country and is coming off a second-round stoppage over Aramis Solis last November.

In scheduled undercard action, streaming live and exclusively on ESPN+:

• Puerto Rican junior lightweight southpaw Henry Lebron (19-0, 10 KOs), who is ranked in the top 10 by the WBO and IBF, will face Filipino contender Charly Suarez (16-0, 9 KOs) in a 10-rounder. Lebron turned away unbeaten prospect William Foster III by majority decision last November to continue his climb up the rankings.
   
• Corpus Christi-born welterweight prospect John Rincon (8-0, 2 KOs) looks to thrill the hometown fans in a six-rounder. Rincon fought at American Bank Center last September and tallied a six-round decision over Bryan Ismael Rodriguez Rivera.
   
• One of the sport’s fastest-rising stars, lightweight prospect Abdullah Mason (12-0, 10 KOs), returns in an eight-rounder against Ronal Ron (14-5, 11 KOs). Mason, a 19-year-old southpaw prodigy from Cleveland, Ohio, obliterated Benjamin Gurment with an overhand left in the second round on the Teofimo Lopez-Jamaine Ortiz undercard in Las Vegas.
   
• Featherweight contender Ruben Villa (21-1, 7 KOs) will fight Mexican veteran Cristian Cruz Chacon (22-6-1, 11 KOs) in a 10-rounder

Orlando, FL (February 28, 2024) – Junior lightweight contender Christopher “Pitufo” Diaz returns to the ring Saturday, March 2 to face once-beaten Headley Scott at the Coliseo Jose Miguel Agrelot in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

The ten round super featherweight contest is for the WBA Continental Latin America championship and takes place on the undercard of undisputed featherweight champion Amanda Serrano’s title defense against Nina Meinke.

Action kicks off at 4:30 PM ET live on DAZN YouTube channel, with the main card kicking off at 7 pm on DAZN.

Living in Orlando and a native of Barranquitas, Puerto Rico, Diaz is 27-4 with 17 wins by knockout. The former two-time world title challenger is known for his fan-friendly style and is regarded among boxing’s most exciting fighters. He’ll return from a 22-month layoff and do so against a hungry opponent looking for a career-defining victory.

Born in Brooklyn, NY and residing in Jonesboro, GA, Scott’s an outstanding 18-1 with 12 KO’s. A pro since 2014, Scott scored most of his knockouts within two rounds.

Amaury Piedra of Boxlab Promotions said “we are thrilled to have Chris return to the ring after his time off. He had a medical issue to deal with, but the time off has been great for him. After so many tough fights against the likes of Navarrette and Dogboe he is feeling fresh and better than ever. This is just the first step in his journey towards once again challenging and winning a world title in the 130 pound division. The fact that we can showcase him in Puerto Rico in front of his many fans is great! We thank our partners at Most Valuable Promotions for this opportunity.”

The card is presented by Most Valuable Promotions. A limited number of tickets from $35 are available at Coliseodepuertorico.com/boxeoamamdaserrano/#series-buy.